Fighting Discrimination on All Fronts: Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-“Pet” Day!
Published August 12, 2009 @ 05:39AM PT
Between six and eight million cats and dogs enter the U.S. shelter system every year; half of these animals won't leave alive. As if the odds aren't daunting enough, some animals face added obstacles to adoption: old(er) age; medical and/or physical problems; behavioral and/or emotional issues; a need to be the only animal in the home; a bond to a friend or family member necessitating joint adoption; membership in a so-called "dangerous breed"; and dark coloring.
It's for these dogs and cats that Petfinder has designated August 12 "Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Day." The holiday is meant to highlight the plight of "less adoptable" animals, and to encourage adopters to give them special consideration. (Even if you're not likely to adopt a dog or cat any time soon, please help Petfinder spread the word!)
We can find parallels to some of the obstacles faced by "less adoptable" animals in the human world, where they are the basis for stereotyping and discrimination. For example, ageism is "a tendency to regard older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention, or unsuitable for employment." Replace "employment" with "adoption," and this term can be applied to senior cats and dogs. Similarly, ableism is "discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities." Deaf and blind animals, those missing one or more limbs, animals with chronic medical or behavioral conditions such as diabetes or separation anxiety - all of these may be passed over in favor of "less defective" animals.
While some "less adoptable" animals may prove too much for less experienced adoptive families to handle or will not fit into every family's household or lifestyle, please consider opening your heart and home to these "throwaways" if possible. It's true that a senior dog probably won't be with you as long as a shiny new pup - but your time together may prove all the more precious for its abruptness. A cat with urinary incontinence may try your patience - or caring for her may bring you both closer together. (Don't believe me? Go read Alec's story - and bring some tissue!)
Not to mention, all animals age, and many will develop medical issues at some time in their lives. Unless you're willing and prepared to tackle these problems as they arise, animal guardianship may not be the right choice for you, or not at this point in your life. Instead, nurture your love for animals by volunteering with a local shelter or rescue group: be a weekend dog walker or open your home to foster cats - it’s a win-win!
Many "less adoptable" animals don't demand any extra care whatsoever. Potential adopters need only be conscious of which animals are less likely to be adopted - and willing to seek these cats and dogs out. Take, for example, black dogs - particularly big, black dogs.
Black Dog Syndrome
Though available statistics don't usually make note of coat colors, numerous anecdotes from shelter workers suggest that black dogs are slower to be adopted than their lighter-colored counterparts. The phenomenon is so widespread that it even has a name: Black Dog Syndrome. The reasons for this are multifold. Against the dark, oftentimes dimly lit backdrops of shelters (and cages), black dogs tend to blend in with their surroundings. Likewise, black dogs don't photograph well; their eyes and facial featured can get lost in their dark fur. Tufts of white fur, when gracing the faces of black dogs, can make them appear older than they are. (Again with the ageism!) Potential adopters who search for their new companions online may unintentionally scroll past row upon row of black dog listings, as their photos tend to look even more uniform when viewed as thumbnails.
More troubling, subconscious stereotypes surrounding the color black may also dissuade people from adopting black dogs. In the black and white dichotomy, black denotes nighttime (complete with the "witching hour"), darkness and evil to white's daytime, light and goodness. Black magic vs. white magic; the Dark Ages vs. the Age of Enlightenment; white-clad virgins, angels and fairies vs. "dark" fallen angels, witches in black capes and black-clad movie villains: awash in Western culture, we're all brought up with these stereotypes, and its is through them that we view and interpret the world (intentionally or not).
The stigma of black also plays out on the bodies of black animals. In mythology and popular culture, black dogs are symbols of evil; they are depicted as mean, vicious, dangerous, violent and foreboding. For large black dogs - especially those belonging to so-called "dangerous" breeds - this fear is amplified. Black cats, too, are considered evil omens, the consorts of witches.
At its most nefarious, Black Dog Syndrome may be related to racism. Writing of the link between BDS and racism, Joselle at Vegans of Color observes:
Of course, all of these theories are inextricably linked with how people of color are so often viewed–menacing, strange, foreign, bad, unattractive.
The issue is a complicated one - well beyond the scope of this single post - but it's worth noting that the Wikipedia pages on African American stereotypes are rife with the color black and the themes of evil and criminality, which parallel those surrounding black animals.
To learn more about BDS, go to Black Pearl Dogs or Start Seeing Black Dogs.
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From Stephanie E.: Kelly has graciously included dogs I personally love in this post--pictured above are my friends Chance, whom I adopted at 7 1/2 years old and who had medical problems that, along with her age, had made it difficult for her to find a home, and Sara, a goofy sweetheart who unfortunately falls into the category of nondescript big black dogs who are too often overlooked, but who was adopted at age 4 from a shelter by a friend.
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Comments (18)
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Author
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A heathen vegan feminist living in rural Missouri with her husband and six furkids (five dogs and a cat), Kelly's interests include animal and human rights, pop culture, language, and the intersecting nature of oppressions. She loves good vegan eats and blaming the patriarchy; you can watch her do both (sometimes simultaneously!) at easyVegan.info.
Thanks so much for this. Last year, we adopted a black pitbull from a wonderful rescue. To compound her image problem, her ears were cut down to nubs by the dogfighter who bred her--so she does indeed look the part of the killler pitbull! We put her through training and she is incredibly social with both dogs and people. She's become a great ambassador for both black dogs and bully breeds. Black dogs rock! :)
Posted by Shannon Davis on 08/12/2009 @ 06:45AM PT
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Our darling Black lab/Golden cross Preston spent two months in a shelter where the normal limit is only five days. The shelter staff loved him so much they couldn't bear to send him to be killed. My mom went in to look at another dog for the Utah Lab Rescue and saw him and immediately took him home to live with our other two large black dogs. The shelter staff thought him to be around five or six because he has a large number of golden hairs in his muzzle that look white - we were shocked when the vet said he was two at the most.
It is so difficult to get people to realize that health problems or physical disabilities don't necessary equal harder to care for. Take deaf dogs, for example. Many people don't want a deaf dog because they believe they'll be harder to have around. However, dogs easily understand sign language and many deaf dogs don't bark!
Posted by Jen Ruff on 08/12/2009 @ 07:11AM PT
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Aren't humans treated the same way with regard to adoption? The unwanted deformed child?
Posted by Luella - on 08/12/2009 @ 07:36AM PT
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Good point! There's also a bias towards younger children and babies, and towards kids who physically resemble the adoptive parents. (Though cross-cultural issues also come into play, further complicating the matter.)
Posted by Kelly Garbato on 08/12/2009 @ 06:45PM PT
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I just adopted an older rescue cat who had some early-life trauma, and she is so wonderful! I love her and we are learning together how she feels safe.
Posted by Amanda Kloer on 08/12/2009 @ 09:15AM PT
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Stephanie, thank you very much for highlighting this. It's a branch of sheltering and rescue which needs more attention, we definitely need to continue to affirm the value of every being, disability or other prejudices regardless. I'm happy to mention the Day at Not One Sparrow as well. Thanks - Ben DeVries
Posted by Ben DeVries on 08/12/2009 @ 01:05PM PT
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Great post Kelly!
I was shocked when I adopted my cat - she was only about 4 months old, and the shelter worker made sure I was aware of her kinked tail (birth defect, apparently). I remember feeling dread, thinking that the kinked tail was a sign of some fatal disease (why else would she bring it up, right?), but it turns out that she just wanted to make sure I knew, so I wouldn't be bringing tempest back for being "defective". (Which had already happened to her once.) It floored me.
Thanks so much for writing this article.
Posted by Deb Durant on 08/12/2009 @ 03:16PM PT
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That's awful! I'd think the unusual tail would make her *stand out* from the other cats, right? (I always gravitate towards the "different" animals in shelters - I'm a sucker for three-legged dogs!)
When we adopted Jayne, she was just finishing up with heartworm treatment. We called the treating vet before picking her up from her foster mom - just to find out more about the treatment and prognosis - and the vet panicked, thinking we were going to back out of the adoption. As if!
Posted by Kelly Garbato on 08/12/2009 @ 06:53PM PT
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This was such a great post. I'm so glad to hear this issue being covered, it is so important to realize that prejiduce is not just a human to human issue, but covers all the spectrums of life on this planet. All 5 of my companion animals are rescues and the amount of joy and love they bring into my life is indescribable. I've got a 3 year old big, black pit mix that acts like the sweetest, tiniest kitten and an elderly, formerly abused beagle that thinks she is a rambunctious 1 year old puppy. These animals are not their circumstances or their appearances, they are beautiful creatures with so much love to give.
Posted by The Voracious Vegan . on 08/13/2009 @ 01:46AM PT
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Wish I knew about this special day sooner! Oh well, next year :)
It's worth mentioning that no matter who you adopt, adopting is a wonderful thing. Even adopting the "most adoptable" animal is doing a good deed. I have a funny story about that:
In college, I decided I had room in my home and heart for a cat so I went down to the shelter to choose one. It was really difficult, but I decided on a shy BEAUTIFUL long-haired female tabby/maine coon. I thought to myself, "She's not the most needy, in fact she seems very adoptable, but she needs a home like everyone else and I really like her."
When they pulled out her file and started to do the adoption paperwork, they told me that her adoption fee had been "discounted" because she was older (5 years old) and had become difficult to place. Apparently, her age and her shyness had kept her at the shelter for months and months and months. Who would have guessed?
Posted by Elaine Vigneault on 08/13/2009 @ 10:38AM PT
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It's sad that five is considered "old." Best case scenario, five years isn't even middle-aged for a cat!
Posted by Kelly Garbato on 08/14/2009 @ 01:15PM PT
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Ha! I thought those faces in the photo looked familiar!! Still looking as beautiful as ever.
Posted by Lisa Smolen on 08/14/2009 @ 07:53AM PT
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I wish I knew about that day sooner, too! I adopted 2 "less-desirable" animals (special needs dog and older, FIP cat) and a third who was returned twice (Charles the greyhound) and they are three of the most grateful, wonderful creatures on the planet! My next greyhound will likely be older and black (the black males are the least adoptable, just like in the human foster care system, an area I work in).
Thanks for bringing attention to this!
Posted by Mary Martin on 08/15/2009 @ 06:19AM PT
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To those who have lamented that they didn't know about this day in advance:
That was my doing/fault; Kelly had this post to me ahead of time, but the morning of the actual day worked best with my posting schedule, and it didn't occur to me, though perhaps it should have, that people (or at least fellow bloggers) might be disappointed not to see this post a couple days in advance. My apologies.
Posted by Stephanie Ernst on 08/15/2009 @ 06:56AM PT
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No apology necessary. I was getting caught up and I wish I LOOKED sooner--that's really what I meant.
:)
Posted by Mary Martin on 08/16/2009 @ 12:47PM PT
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In 2003, I was looking for a second dog (one of my dogs had died, and my other dog was incredibly lonely). My then-boyfriend (now husband) and I fell in love with a black 6 1/2 German shepherd mix laying in the grass of her large kennel at a shelter in Bonn, Germany, where I was living at the time. The shelter was *beautiful* -- the Germans make dog shelters look like canine Club Meds. The shelter staff told us they were thrilled we were adopting Albi, because so many people wouldn't because she was black -- and, therefore, they thought she was mean. We were gobsmacked. Albi's now 12 1/2 and is the most well-behaved dog I've ever had. We take her camping, to restaurants, to biergartens, to street fairs, and on and on. So many people say you can't *really* bond with an adult dog -- she's my third dog adopted as an adult, and I challenge anyone whose raised a dog from puppyhood to claim their dog has a closer, deeper, more loyal relationship with them than I have had with my dogs.
Posted by Jayne Cravens on 08/22/2009 @ 08:09PM PT
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I have adopted two senior animals and it was one of the most fullfilling things I have ever done. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Posted by Kristina Cahill on 09/30/2009 @ 10:27AM PT
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Wonderful post! So many breeds get a bad name much worse than not being adopted happens, they are banned from many staes and even countries. the amercian pit-bull is banned from england. these breeds were not meant to be in the first place, its humans have messed about with mother nature and created unnatural breeds. then they decide they dont want them huh, humans are pure scum to do stuff like this.
I was in a shelter once there was a pit-bull in the corner no one would go near it, yet he/she was the most quietest and most timid of the lot, needless to say he/she got plenty of fuss from me i only wish i could have adopted him...
Posted by Soodle Billy on 10/02/2009 @ 03:07AM PT
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